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Has hacker news lost it? Maps & Gmail & Search all have plenty of accumulating flaws... but they also completely defined their product category and today are a

Has hacker news lost it? Maps & Gmail & Search all have plenty of accumulating flaws... but they also completely defined their product category and today are among the most popular software products ever made.

wil421 4mo ago
Garmin was and is better than Google Maps and Mapquest was better than Google Maps when you needed to print directions. If Google didn’t have Android would maps matter as much? Apple Maps and Waze is better for directions. Apple has better CarPlay integration and HUD. Google Maps is way better at searching for things like restaurants or local businesses but not as much the nav part.
Dylan16807 4mo ago
"defined their product category" means it used to be outstanding, not that it currently is outstanding. "among the most popular" doesn't need either of those to be true.
- stouset 4mo ago
  As a concrete example, Windows defined the product category. And it is still the most popular desktop operating system in the world by far. Few here would argue that it’s an outstanding product.
  - pigeons 4mo ago
    More than plenty of people (including me) would argue that Windows is an awful product, but a quite significant number of people (maybe even including me) would argue that its an outstanding product.
    - coldtea 4mo ago
      >but a quite significant number of people (maybe even including me) would argue that its an outstanding product. Are those people in the room with us now?
  - wiseowise 4mo ago
    I hate Windows with passion and can still acknowledge that it is an outstanding product.
aeyes 4mo ago
They are popular because they are free. I have to use Gmail at work and it is just terrible.
shimman 4mo ago
Wow I wonder why maps and gmail are extremely popular by the company that controls the largest browser, search, android, and advertising. It's based solely on their merits and not abusing their monopolistic position to thwart competition right?

wil421 4mo ago

Garmin was and is better than Google Maps and Mapquest was better than Google Maps when you needed to print directions. If Google didn’t have Android would maps matter as much? Apple Maps and Waze is better for directions. Apple has better CarPlay integration and HUD. Google Maps is way better at searching for things like restaurants or local businesses but not as much the nav part.

Dylan16807 4mo ago

"defined their product category" means it used to be outstanding, not that it currently is outstanding. "among the most popular" doesn't need either of those to be true.

stouset 4mo ago
As a concrete example, Windows defined the product category. And it is still the most popular desktop operating system in the world by far. Few here would argue that it’s an outstanding product.
- pigeons 4mo ago
  More than plenty of people (including me) would argue that Windows is an awful product, but a quite significant number of people (maybe even including me) would argue that its an outstanding product.
  - coldtea 4mo ago
    >but a quite significant number of people (maybe even including me) would argue that its an outstanding product. Are those people in the room with us now?
- wiseowise 4mo ago
  I hate Windows with passion and can still acknowledge that it is an outstanding product.

aeyes 4mo ago

They are popular because they are free. I have to use Gmail at work and it is just terrible.

shimman 4mo ago

Wow I wonder why maps and gmail are extremely popular by the company that controls the largest browser, search, android, and advertising. It's based solely on their merits and not abusing their monopolistic position to thwart competition right?